In this paper we survey the primary research, both theoretical and applied, in the area of robust optimization (RO). Our focus is on the computational attractiveness of RO approaches, as well as the modeling power and broad applicability of the methodology. In addition to surveying prominent theoretical results of RO, we also present some recent results linking RO to adaptable models for multistage decision-making problems. Finally, we highlight applications of RO across a wide spectrum of domains, including finance, statistics, learning, and various areas of engineering.

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Theory and Applications of Robust Optimization

Unit commitment, one of the most critical tasks in electric power system operations, faces new challenges as the supply and demand uncertainty increases dramatically due to the integration of variable generation resources such as wind power and price responsive demand. To meet these challenges, we propose a two-stage adaptive robust unit commitment model for the security constrained unit commitment problem in the presence of nodal net injection uncertainty. Compared to the conventional stochastic programming approach, the proposed model is more practical in that it only requires a deterministic uncertainty set, rather than a hard-to-obtain probability distribution on the uncertain data. The unit commitment solutions of the proposed model are robust against all possible realizations of the modeled uncertainty. We develop a practical solution methodology based on a combination of Benders decomposition type algorithm and the outer approximation technique. We present an extensive numerical study on the real-world large scale power system operated by the ISO New England. Computational results demonstrate the economic and operational advantages of our model over the traditional reserve adjustment approach.

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Adaptive Robust Optimization for the Security Constrained Unit Commitment Problem

Solving two-stage robust optimization problems using a column-and-constraint generation method

In this paper we focus on a linear optimization problem with uncertainties, having expectations in the objective and in the set of constraints. We present a modular framework to obtain an approximate solution to the problem that is distributionally robust and more flexible than the standard technique of using linear rules. Our framework begins by first affinely extending the set of primitive uncertainties to generate new linear decision rules of larger dimensions and is therefore more flexible. Next, we develop new piecewise-linear decision rules that allow a more flexible reformulation of the original problem. The reformulated problem will generally contain terms with expectations on the positive parts of the recourse variables. Finally, we convert the uncertain linear program into a deterministic convex program by constructing distributionally robust bounds on these expectations. These bounds are constructed by first using different pieces of information on the distribution of the underlying uncertainties to develop separate bounds and next integrating them into a combined bound that is better than each of the individual bounds.

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Distributionally Robust Optimization and Its Tractable Approximations

Model predictive control (MPC) has demonstrated exceptional success for the high-performance control of complex systems [1], [2]. The conceptual simplicity of MPC as well as its ability to effectively cope with the complex dynamics of systems with multiple inputs and outputs, input and state/output constraints, and conflicting control objectives have made it an attractive multivariable constrained control approach [1]. MPC (a.k.a. receding-horizon control) solves an open-loop constrained optimal control problem (OCP) repeatedly in a receding-horizon manner [3]. The OCP is solved over a finite sequence of control actions {u0,u1,f,uN- 1} at every sampling time instant that the current state of the system is measured. The first element of the sequence of optimal control actions is applied to the system, and the computations are then repeated at the next sampling time. Thus, MPC replaces a feedback control law p(m), which can have formidable offline computation, with the repeated solution of an open-loop OCP [2]. In fact, repeated solution of the OCP confers an "implicit" feedback action to MPC to cope with system uncertainties and disturbances. Alternatively, explicit MPC approaches circumvent the need to solve an OCP online by deriving relationships for the optimal control actions in terms of an "explicit" function of the state and reference vectors. However, explicit MPC is not typically intended to replace standard MPC but, rather, to extend its area of application [4]-[6].

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Stochastic Model Predictive Control: An Overview and Perspectives for Future Research

We consider linear programs with uncertain parameters, lying in some prescribed uncertainty set, where part of the variables must be determined before the realization of the uncertain parameters (`...

GoryashkoA.

Papers

Adjustable robust solutions of uncertain linear programs